sent necessities, but you have given him to understand his own powers. This is the highest aim of all true benevolence; not simply to open your purse to supply the passing wants of the needy, but to show them how they may avoid want.

To accomplish this, it may become necessary to lend for a time, and, in some instances, give, and to give largely; still, the great object of charity should be, to teach men, women, and children, how God designs them to live by the labor of their own hands. And how useful is the woman who can devise means thus to provide for the poor around her. Such an one may truly say, as did Job, "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.”

We know that there are many women, enjoying the pleasures and so-called refinements of this life, who, if asked to employ the poor, would declare that they could not afford it. Cannot afford it? Why, they afford to hire the fashionable dress-maker, to cut and make their own and their children's dresses, and yet cannot save that poor widow and her daughters from the temptation and misery that environ them, by furnishing honorable labor. Cannot afford it, indeed! A rare instance this of economy and self-denial! If none but an admitted priestess of fashion can cut and fit her robes, let her, at least, set the poor widow and daughters to make them. Perhaps they will not be finished with all the professional skill that you might desire; but be assured, you will always prefer the garment that has been in any way instrumental in relieving human suffering, and in adding another motive to the wretched and sorrowing, to persevere in the way of industry and virtue. Were there no other motive to incite

woman to acts of benevolence and enterprise, the blessings which she brings to the poor in this manner, would be amply sufficient. But these are by no means all; no, not a tithe of those which she brings to the world, by a prudent use of her heaven-bestowed energies. She aids in binding together the distant portions of the earth, by the mutual dependencies of commerce, thus strengthening the motives to peace and universal harmony; and leading, by an extension of intercourse with other nations, to a more general acknowledgment of human brotherhood, and a more earnest desire for the spread of our peculiar blessings. A highway to the remotest regions of the earth is thus opened, and a friendly intercourse commenced, which, by wisdom, may be made in the highest degree subservient to the interests of morality and virtue. The commerce which their industry aids in extending and sustaining, demands the facilities of steam and electricity; and by means of these agents, how speedily, even swifter than on the wings of the wind, may the word of divine truth be carried to the remotest lands.

Should any woman be tempted to sit down in supine indulgence and ease, let her look at these things; let her see how heaven has appointed to her the high and holy mission of self-denying labors; and what she may contribute by it to the highest good of the world. No longer a subordinate agent in the restoration of the earth, the sphere assigned her is equal, in importance, to that of man, and, if rightly filled, will be as eminently blessed of God. How highly culpable, then, is that woman, who sits down without using her powers, either of body or mind, for her own good or that of others! In the day of final account, will not she be found among those who have buried their Lord's money in the earth, and who attempt to justify themselves by saying, "I knew thee, that thou wert an austere man, gathering where thou hast not strewn, and

reaping where thou hast not sowed?"

This subterfuge

will be swept away, with every other refuge of lies, and the soul will stand up, a robber and murderer before God, because it has wasted the treasures of his bounty, and refused to deliver from death the needy and suffering.

SECTION III.

The subject continued.

"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms," ver. 17.

The wise woman who has, by industry and economy, thus fulfilled the obligation which her condition imposes, is not a sufferer from the bodily weakness which is inseparably connected with idleness and luxury. In this we see the wisdom, as well as mercy, of our Heavenly Father. He has not required of us duties which do not bring, in themselves, a sure reward. Nothing so invigorates the body as the cheerful performance of useful labor. who toils in hope of bettering her own condition, or adding to the comfort of her husband and children, the well-being of her neighbors, and the interest and respectability of her country, will seldom be a sufferer from those bodily ills of which the fashionable so often complain; for it is difficult to find a woman, devoted to ease and fashion, who is not habitually, to some extent, an invalid.

She

We know that such a woman cannot be said to live strictly a life of ease; but she is far from enjoying that exercise which health of body and peace of mind require. God has so intimately connected these two things, peace of mind and health of body, that no one can truly possess the one, without due regard to the wants of the other.

There may be, in our fallen state, certain hereditary peculiarities of constitution, which, independently of our own disobedience, will prevent a perfect enjoyment of that strength which God originally designed for us: yet even this does not seem to free us entirely from the penalty. The mind may labor under no sense of guilt, yet it is a stranger to the high enjoyment it might have known, but for the want of physical strength. The iniquity of parents is thus often fearfully visited upon children and children's children. The woman who possesses true wisdom is not indifferent to this consideration, and, for the sake of her posterity, as well as for her own good, "She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms."

This connection between physical law and a capacity for obedience to the highest moral requirements, should not be overlooked. God would never have assigned to men and women the sovereignty and consequent care of the whole terrestrial creation, without giving them strength for the performance of the duties which a perfect fulfillment of all their godlike efforts implied. We lay it down as an incontrovertible, general axiom, that, without physical strength, men and women cannot fully discharge the duties which their relations imply.

This being admitted, as we think it must be, by all who consider the true nature of this sovereignty, it follows that we are as truly bound to seek the physical strength of ourselves and our offspring, as their highest mental and moral attainments. This we shall see by a moment's reflection. The wisest mind may suggest, but where will the improvement commence, unless there is strength to carry out its suggestions? The most philanthropic heart may desire, but who will carry the glad tidings of salvation to distant climes, unless the spirit is enshrined in a body capable of enduring hardships and exposures? Do mothers, who bring up their daughters so delicately that they have not

He

strength to perform labor, fully realize what they are doing? Do they consider how they are robbing God of services which he demands for the good of our race? may call them to upon go as the missionaries of the cross, but, alas! they could never brave the toils and dangers, because they have lived in ease and luxury. Must not God look upon such as unfaithful stewards of his bounty and trust? nay, rather as objects of the most contemptible weakness, who glory in their shame ?

They are weak, too weak to labor for the renovation of the world, either at home or abroad. Is a poor neighbor sick and suffering? They are not able to visit her, and minister to her necessities. They are too delicate. Shame on that weakness and delicacy which your own sins have brought upon you. Had you labored, and had you required it of your household, your children would not have been too weak to watch by the bed of the suffering, and to minister, with a strong hand, to the necessities of the af flicted. Never make mention of such an excuse without a blush of shame, that you have been in such very deed a robber. Had you encouraged your daughters, by precept and example, they would have considered it one of their highest joys to visit the afflicted-keep clean and tidy the apartments of the sick-to make soft and smooth the bed of the invalid, and, with their own hands, prepare the palatable dish, made even more welcome by their elastic step and glowing countenance. The weakness of the present race, especially of American women, is our reproach, not as some falsely suppose, our glory. To do the work of him that sent us, we need strength, capacity for labor, and an intimate knowledge of the arts of life. The woman, who is thus furnished, may go to any land, and in all capacities, be alike useful and honored. But this can never be realized unless "she worketh willingly with her hands." There is no avoiding it; if woman would return